The addendum runs only to the asterisk:

 
 
Although it took us three days, Elenka and I together have come to the conclusion that Hollywood Beach is one of the best beaches in the world.
"Water and sand does not a beach make," I said to her. "For each and every one of them have an abundance of both." 
"What makes a beach stand out," she replied, "is its ambiance." 

 
 I agreed whole-heartedly. Last night we sat on a boardwalk bench and simply people watched until the sun went down. This morning, as the sun rose, we floated in the sea. It was here that our final decision was made. Although hi-rise buildings do exist in Hollywood, there are none where we are. Bounded by - this is an approximation - Johnson Street and New Mexico Street, there's nothing but low-rise, 40s and 50s architecture for better than half a kilometre. We both have a feeling that there will be a next-time for Hollywood on our bucket list.
 
 
A good percentage of the vacationers here are wonderful French Canadians. We laugh and joke with them about how our silly accents sound to one and other. We of course tell them we're from Ohio, because in the real world people from Ontario do not make this kind of happy fun with people from Quebec. 
  
 
To get a feel for Hollywood Beach do a google images search. But do avoid looking at the hi-rise photos. They don't at all do the place justice. 
 

                                  
                                        



 
 

 

  Elenka and I are in Hollywood Florida waiting to catch a boat to Italy. We learned something a couple of weeks ago and it would be wrong of me not to share. Air Canada now has regularly scheduled flights from the Toronto Island Airport to Montreal. From Montreal you can go anywhere in the world. Just getting to Toronto's international airport - even if you live in the city - can be expensive and horribly irritating. Once there, you can expect to have to stand in line-ups that make no sense for up to, or possibly more than, one-and-a-half hours. 

 
Toronto Island Airport takes all of these problems away. For Elenka and I, who live right in the city, it's a short tram-ride away. In the departure lounge you can chow-down on cappuccinos and cookies, all gratis, because Air Canada loves and appreciates your patronage. That's horse-s*** of course, because if you fly with Air Canada from Pearson, you'll not even get a smile. So grab this special deal while you can, it's not likely to last.

 
Hollywood Beach is mid-way between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. The architecture has a mostly well maintained, 1940s or 1950s, feel to it. It'll cost you $50 a day to rent a bicycle. A can of beer costs $3.50, but a bottle of Australian, Lindeman Pinot Noir goes for $2.50. Who knows what a spiffy, art-decoish, three-bedroom family dwelling would run you. A million? Twenty-thousand? Check out the photos. This is actually peak season in Hollywood.
 
 
Anyway, Sunday we leave. We'll stop at an island in the Bahamas for a day and then go to Puerto Rico, where we might get a chance to practise our Spanish. From there, we'll go to the island of Sint Maarten, a wonderful little Caribbean dot on the map that's ruled by both the Dutch and French in far off Europe. After that it will be several days at sea.       

 
Dakujem, that means 'thank you' in Slovak. Or does it mean 'Good morning'? I'm never quite sure.